Hydrolysis system and process for devices containing energetic material

Abstract

A system for chemically disposing energetic material enclosed in assembled devices includes a porous basket. The porous basket forms an enclosed chamber for receiving the assembled devices. Further, the basket is supported by a rotatable basket arm that is, in turn, connected to a lifting arm. In addition to these structures, the system includes a tank that holds a hydrolysis solution. The tank is positioned to allow the lifting arm to submerge the basket into the solution. After submersion, the basket arm rotates the basket in the solution to flow the hydrolysis solution into contact with the assembled devices therein. As a result, the assembled devices react with the solution so that the solution penetrates the assembled devices, allowing the solution to contact and react with the energetic material to render the energetic material non-energetic.

1 . A method for chemically disposing energetic material inaccessibly enclosed in assembled devices comprising the steps of:
 positioning the assembled devices in a porous basket;   completely submerging the basket in a hydrolysis solution, with the hydrolysis solution flowing into contact with the assembled devices; and   rotating the basket in the hydrolysis solution to facilitate a reaction between the assembled devices and the hydrolysis solution, with said reaction leading to penetration of the assembled devices by the hydrolysis solution, with said penetration allowing the hydrolysis solution to contact and react with the energetic material to render the energetic material non-energetic.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the basket from the hydrolysis solution after the energetic material is rendered non-energetic; 
 immersing the basket in a rinse fluid; and 
 revolving the basket in the rinse fluid to rinse off components remaining in the basket. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising the steps of:
 withdrawing the basket from the rinse fluid; and 
 unloading remaining components from the basket. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the reactions between the assembled devices, the energetic material, and the hydrolysis solution occur at a reaction rate, with the method further comprising controlling the reaction rate by selectively adding heat to the hydrolysis solution and selectively removing heat from the hydrolysis solution. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the reactions between the assembled devices, the energetic material, and the hydrolysis solution occur at a reaction rate, and wherein the hydrolysis solution has a surface area, with the method further comprising controlling the reaction rate by selectively increasing and decreasing the surface area of the hydrolysis solution. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hydrolysis solution is between approximately 60° C. and approximately 130° C. and between about 4 wt. % and 50 wt. % sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hydrolysis solution is between approximately 50° C. and approximately 80° C. and between about 3M and 8M nitric acid. 
     
     
         8 . A method for chemically disposing energetic material which comprises the steps of:
 randomly placing a plurality of assembled devices in a holder, wherein each assembled device has walls to enclose and contain energetic material inside the respective assembled device;   submerging the holder in a hydrolysis solution;   flowing the hydrolysis solution through the holder and into contact with the assembled devices;   rotating the holder in the hydrolysis solution to facilitate a reaction between the hydrolysis solution and the assembled devices in the holder, during a submersion of the assembled devices in the hydrolysis solution; and   allowing a chemical penetration of the hydrolysis solution through the respective walls of each assembled device, and into contact with the energetic material, to render the energetic material non-energetic, in response to the reaction.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the holder with non-energetic material from the hydrolysis solution; 
 immersing the holder in a rinse fluid; and 
 rotating the holder in the rinse fluid to facilitate rinsing the non-energetic material. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of modulating the temperature of the hydrolysis solution with a heat exchanger to control the reaction rate of the hydrolysis solution with the walls of the assembled devices and with the energetic material enclosed and contained therein. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of selectively adjusting the exposed surface area of the hydrolysis solution by floating surface objects thereon to control the temperature and evaporation rate of the hydrolysis solution. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of capturing and removing hydrogen and other gases when released from the hydrolysis solution during the allowing step. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the hydrolysis solution is a caustic hydrolysis solution having a temperature in a range between 60° C. and 130° C. with a concentration of sodium hydroxide between 4 wt. % and 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the hydrolysis solution is an acidic hydrolysis solution having a temperature in a range between 50° C. and 80° C. and with a concentration of nitric acid in a range between 3M and 8M. 
     
     
         15 . A method for chemically disposing energetic material which comprises the steps of:
 providing an hydrolysis solution;   submerging the energetic material into the hydrolysis solution, wherein the energetic material is completely enclosed and contained within a wall; and   modulating the temperature of the hydrolysis solution within a temperature range to control a first reaction between the hydrolysis solution and the wall for penetration of the hydrolysis solution through the wall to establish access to the energetic material, and a second reaction between the hydrolysis solution and the energetic material for rendering the energetic material non-energetic.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 randomly placing a plurality of assembled devices in a porous basket, wherein each assembled device includes a portion of the energetic material completely enclosed and contained within a respective wall; and 
 rotating the basket in the hydrolysis solution to facilitate the first and second reactions. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the hydrolysis solution is a caustic hydrolysis solution having a temperature in a range between 60° C. and 130° C. with a concentration of sodium hydroxide between 4 wt. % and 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the hydrolysis solution is an acidic hydrolysis solution having a temperature in a range between 50° C. and 80° C. and with a concentration of nitric acid in a range between 3M and 8M. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the modulating step is accomplished with a heat exchanger to control the reaction rate between the hydrolysis solution and the walls of the assembled devices in the first reaction, and between the hydrolysis solution and the energetic material in the second reaction. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the modulating step is accomplished by selectively adjusting the exposed surface area of the hydrolysis solution by floating surface objects thereon to control the temperature and evaporation rate of the hydrolysis solution in the first reaction and in the second reaction.